Shop Fox

[myxpykalix]

I said "Shop Fox" not "ShopFox"...there is a difference! Apparently she has been living in/under the shop for some time. I have noticed for a long time boxes, paper tore up for nesting material and figured it was just squirrels.
Now here is something i have wondered about for a while...out on top of my wood pile i have seen where some animal would climb up to the top and poop on the top of the pile.
I covered the wood up but it keeps coming back. I wonder if it is this fox doing that? I didn't think foxes climbed like cats.:confused:

Looks like a Red Fox (not to be confused with Redd Foxx)

[Brady Watson]

I wonder if it is this fox doing that?

Yep. They are notorious for this. I had a friend with a truck parked in his back yard (had a cap on the truck w/tools in the back & broken window); a fox or foxes - pooped all over his tools multiple times...Just nasty.

I'm not sure if they carry the same kind of diseases as racoons, but you have to be careful with that - get the bleach out etc.

-B

[MogulTx]

I have a den near the house- and occasionally see momma and dad ( have not seen kits)... whenever I get a squirrel that is bothering my fruit trees, I lay him out in front of their den. I figure it is hard to make a living- and I like the looks of a fox...

One time, we caught the male in a have-a-heart (trying to protect our chickens) ... The momma stayed just at the edge of the woods looking at us and making noises and huffing at us. I told my son that we needed to let him go, and that we would not likely ever see him in a trap again. We opened the door and had to shake him out of the trap... be he ran to his mate and then they were both gone like a shot... kind of a nice way to work together. They are not the cleanest creatures. They are not the best to have around when you have chickens.... but the birds are protected against them... so they stay.

[scottp55]

Jack,
Not sure that someone who just had a heart attack should let a Real Fox as cute as that hang around his shop all the time.....Do your other Girlfriends know about her? :) :)

[harryball]

At first I thought you meant ShopFox and I was going to say I tend to avoid them... then I realized you meant Shop Fox and so I have to say I avoid those too.

We've taken care of 5 foxes in 3 years now, most recently this January. We were very tolerant of them (too tolerant) at first but after months of them coming out, sunning, basically keeping their distance but not running when they saw us they got bold and wiped out 14 chickens before we could get out there. They had gotten bold and to the point they wouldn't run from us. Up to that point I didn't see the harm in letting them be and do their thing. Since then, however, if they present themselves for viewing they are considered targets. Chicken mortality has dropped to two in 2013 and none last year, none so far this year. Fox attacks have climbed in our area in the past 5 years too, several were captured and tested positive for rabies, including one that put a woman in the hospital and injured two responding deputies, they all had to have rabies shots. Her injuries were to the face and mostly cosmetic but required surgery. Last year a fox ran out and bit a child on a playground of a school about 8 miles from us. I learned then that foxes will defend their dens and territories by being aggressive if encroached and were more likely to do so against children by running at them and biting them. There are videos on YouTube of similar behavior from foxes.

I know they are out there because they pee on stuff, **** in strange places and make a mess etc... but we've trained them to keep their distance. I'm convinced that when they let you see them it's time to shoot them.

They are beautiful but from experience I'm telling you, be careful, especially if you have pets and kids around.

Oh, and yes, foxes are excellent climbers. We have an almost 6' fence with 2"x4" squares, I've personally watched a fox climb right over it.

Here's the story, this happened about 10 miles from me and we know many of the participants... except the fox, we didn't know him.
http://www.jacksonprogress-argus.com/news/2011/jul/08/rabies-confirmed-in-butts-county-fox-attack/


/RB